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Stop by St. Saviours Church every Sunday 2pm-4pm for a warm lunch!

EMERGENCY SHELTER BEDS EXTENDED TILL FRIDAY: 8 PM -8 AM Anglican Church - ANKORS will have extended hours 8 AM - 8 PM

DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER: Emergency beds open: Anglican Church, Friday - Tuesday 8PM-8AM ANKORS will have extended hours Saturday - Tuesday 8AM-8PM

DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER: Emergency beds open Tuesday and Wednesday 8PM-8AM ANKORS will have extended hours Wednesday and Thursday 8AM-8PM

If you have any information please contact: Nelson Police Department (250) 354-3919 (ext 3) or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers 1(800) 222-8477

ANKORS will have extended hours Saturday, Jan 25th 8AM - 8PM Anglican Church will be open for over night beds 8PM - 8AM Friday 24th and Saturday 25th

Monday & Tuesday ANKORS hours: 8am-8pm Anglican Church hours: 8pm-8am

Contact Sandra Bernier: ankors.recovery@gmail.com
250-551-0754

The World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week event will be at ANKORS hosted by Nurse Cat and ANKORS Social Worker (Katia) on Monday 2 December, 2024. Time: 1.30-3.30pm. We will offer pizza, drinks, information about HIV, AIDS, testing and treatment.
You are welcome to bring yourself, an appetite and any questions for a relaxed social get together.

Please join us for International Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday, August 31st, 2024, at Cottonwood Falls in Nelson from 4:30pm to 6pm for this special Memorial Event. This is an important day to remember friends and family members who have passed away due to the toxic drug crisis. Please come out to show support for your community, for people who are grieving, and all those who are affected by the toxic drug crisis in BC.

Come learn more at this supportive and inclusive annual community event. Service providers and healthcare workers will be available to share educational resources for local mental health and substance use support. Naloxone training will be provided at this event. We will have Indigenous Elder support, speeches, free pizza, educational resources, and more.

ANKORS is hosting a free Hepatitis C testing event on Monday, July 29th from 10am - noon. Food is provided!

Last day of drug checking before shambala is Saturday July 20th, we are open at 11am-5pm for drug checking. Come down to 101 baker street to get your drugs tested.

Don’t miss this free meal, happening tonight at 5:30!!

We are open for extended hours during this heat wave, stop by, say hi, and get some juice and water

We have a new low-key, discreet sharps disposal container mounted out front of our building at 101 baker st for 24 hour sharps disposal

A little bit of outreach van action from trail BC 🙌

Raise Your Voice
Nelson Fentanyl Task Force and ANKORS would like your support in our advocacy for temporary housing to those without homes. Please consider using our form letter ( link in bio - Form letter MLA Brittney Anderson) to write and send a letter to your MLA to raise your voice about this continuing problem of no housing.

We had our first day of drug checking from our mobile outreach van last week in Trail! What a great space! Keep your eyes open for more of this to come! ✨

#mobiletesting #drugchecking #outreach #outreachservices #mobiledrugchecking #drugcheckingonwheels #getyourdrugstested #ankorsbc #trialrun #harmreduction #harmreductionsupplies #harmreductionsaveslives

🚨 DRUG ADVISORY FOR THE WEST KOOTENAY REGION!!

This alert is for the entire West Kootenay region. Down of various colours and textures has been found to contain high concentrations of fluorofentanyl and bromazolam.

Fluorofentanyl is equally or more potent than fentanyl. Benzodiazepines can produce amnesia and heavy sedation. ‼️

There have been reports of multiple overdoses, heavy sedation, blackouts, and amnesia at this time. ⚠️

Please encourage people who use drugs to get their drugs tested before using, and to follow other harm reduction tips.

#drugalert #westkootenays #kootenays #castlegar #trail #nelson #grandforks #fentanyl #bromazolam #benzos #overdoserisk #alert #pleaseshare #drugadvisory #attention #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreduction

April 14th marks 8 years since BC declared a public health emergency over the toxic drug crisis. Over 14,000 people have died since the beginning of this crisis, and still more continue to die every day.

Join the Rural Empowered Drug Users Network at Nelson City Hall for a community potluck at 2-4PM to show your support and stand in solidarity with people affected by this crisis. Potluck-style food donations are welcomed.

#april14th #publichealthemergency #anniversary #toxicdrugcrisis #preventabledeaths #harmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives #solidarity #support #8yearsofcrisis #toomanylost #supervisedconsumptionsaveslives #safesupplynow #safersupply #safersupplysaveslives

Do you know someone who uses counterfeit prescription tablets such as hydromorphone, Xanax or Adderall? 💊 Prescription pills purchased or procured illicitly may not be what you think! Check out these newly created prescription info cards, available at ANKORS now! Come check them out!

#prescription #pills #counterfeit #tablets #stimulants #benzos #benzodiazepines #opioids #hydromorphone #xanax #drugpoisoningcrisis #overdoseawareness #harmreductionsaveslives #getyourdrugstested

🐣 Easter weekend hours! We will be running essential services everyday this weekend at 101 Baker St, with our regular operating hours. This includes access to the overdose prevention site, harm reduction supplies, and drop-in services. Drug checking will be available everyday except Monday April 1st.

Hoping everyone enjoys the long spring weekend! 🌷

#easterweekend #easter #hours #essentialservices #drugchecking #overdosepreventionsite #dropin #harmreductionsuppplies #harmreduction #harmreductionislove #harmreductionsaveslives

Looking to test your drugs? Not able to access drug checking services in your community? With fentanyl test strips, you can determine whether or not your drugs contain or have been adulterated with fentanyl. Check out this post for more information about where to access fentanyl test strips in the West Kootenay and Boundary regions.

Know of a place that distributes fentanyl test strips that we haven't listed? Let us know and we'll add it to the post! Thanks!

#fentanylteststrips #fentanylteststripssavelives #fts #harmreduction #harmreductionworks #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreductionislove #besafe #getyourdrugstested #getyourdrugschecked

🚨 WARNING 🚨 Fentanyl detected in cocaine sample in Grand Forks! Yesterday, ANKORS detected fentanyl and benzodiazepines in a cocaine sample in Grand Forks. This sample was associated with at least one overdose and carries a high overdose risk due to the potency of fentanyl.

If you or someone you know uses cocaine, get it tested before using! This sample is likely still in circulation throughout the West Kootenay region. Bring your samples to ANKORS for testing, or come by to pick up fentanyl test strips.

Please share this alert widely and encourage people that use drugs to get their drugs tested!

#drugalert #cocaine #fentanylawareness #toxicdrugcrisis #toxicdrugalert #overdoseawareness #overdosealert #overdosecrisis

With the closure of the Hub in Nelson, ANKORS West will be adjusting our hours to provide more services throughout the week. We are extending our usual hours to open at 9am and close at 5pm Monday through Thursday. Essential services (including OPS, harm reduction supplies, drop-in) will be available on Friday from 1-5pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm. Drug checking is available Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays. Stop on by!

#harmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives #essentialservices #overdosecrisibc #overdoseepidemic #opioidcrisis #toxicdrugpoisoningcrisis #dropin #overdosepreventionsite #ankorsbc

Heading to a party, rave, or event this year? 🎆 Looking for harm reduction supplies? Want to make sure folks at your event are safe? Stop by ANKORS to pick up a harm reduction party package! These kits contain:

✔️ Naloxone kits
✔️ Safe disposal sharps containers
✔️ Fentanyl test strips
✔️ Safer snorting kits
✔️ Safer boofing kits
✔️ Supplies for safer GHB use
✔️ Internal and external condoms and lube
✔️ A guide to mixing substances
✔️ Earplugs
✔️ Information about ANKORS drug checking services
✔️ Drug information cards
✔️ Harm reduction information and resources
✔️ Safer sex information and resources

Have any questions about this stuff? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly or comment below!

#partysafer #rave #event #education #saferpartying
#staysafe #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreductionsupplies #partypackage #naloxone #safersex #resources #information

Today, March 6th is Black Balloon Day. Black Balloon Day has become an international event, bringing awareness to deaths from substance use harms and the unregulated toxic drug supply across North America.

Drug overdose and poisoning is now the leading cause of accidental death in North America. Black Balloon Day helps create awareness around the important issue of providing support to those struggling with substance use disorder and their loved ones.

It's a silent epidemic that demands our attention and compassion. Let's break the silence and stigma surrounding substance use disorder. Let's provide support, love, and resources to those who are struggling.

@momsstoptheharm

#blackballoonday #blackballoonday2024 #overdosecrisibc #overdosecrisis #overdoseepidemic #toxicdrugpoisoningcrisis #overdoseawareness #stopstigma

Exciting news! ANKORS now has a mobile outreach van! Scroll through the photos for an inside and outside tour of this awesome van! Thanks to @redfishvanz for the incredible work they did to outfit the interior of the van! This van is fully operational now and will be used for harm reduction supply distribution, drug checking, and mobile OPS services throughout the West Kootenay/Boundary region!

#outreach #mobileservices #mobileops #mobilehr #mobileharmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreduction #drugcheckingsaveslives #drugpoisoningcrisis #drugchecking #outreachvan #outreachservices

The Trail Community Action Team presents Respect & Connect 2024!

The Trail Community Action Team (TCAT) is holding a free event on Tuesday, February 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at JL Crowe Secondary School. This event highlights services available to youth and their parents in the Lower Columbia.

TCAT’s Youth World Café will give youth and their parents information on the various organizations offering services to youth at risk of harm from drug use, and how to access them. From counselling to after-school activities, the following organizations will briefly present their programs, followed by an open question period and networking:

➡️ANKORS
➡️Circle of Indigenous Nations Society
➡️Freedom Quest
➡️Interior Health’s Youth Intensive Case Management and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use programs
➡️JL Crowe Secondary School
➡️Kootenay Columbia Learning Centre
➡️Rossland Youth Action Network
➡️Salmo Valley Community Centre
➡️Trail Association for Community Living and Career Development Society
➡️Trail Skills Centre
➡️Trail Youth Action Network

This is the first of four events in the Respect & Connect series, all with a youth theme this year. Follow Trail Community Action Team online for upcoming Respect & Connect events.

@tcateam

#respectandconnect #youth #worldcafé #resources #information #event #learningevent #toxicdrugcrisis #overdosecrisis

Here is a review of our drug checking services for 2023! This was our busiest year for testing so far! Swipe through for more details!

#drugchecking #statistics #drugcheckingsaveslives #testingdrugs #testyourdrugs #getyourdrugstested #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreductionworks #harmreductionislove #2023yearinreview #ankors #ankorsdrugchecking

The Rural Empowered Drug Users Network (R.E.D.U.N.) provides crucial support to current and former drug users, as well as their friends, family, and supporters. R.E.D.U.N. is a proactive response to a significant number of losses in our community.

The R.E.D.U.N. outreach program meets people where they are at, supporting individuals' safety and well-being if they use drugs, as well as distributing essential harm reduction supplies, safer sex materials, water and snacks.

Beyond their lifesaving harm reduction work, R.E.D.U.N. provides a meaningful platform for people who use(d) drugs to contribute to their community and advocate for proactive drug policy reform.

Learn more about local community efforts to reduce harm from the unregulated drug overdose crisis in a report from @candrugpolicy. The report can be accessed by checking out their bio.

📢 Presenting our "Bridging Community Connections: Human Rights, Public Space, and Harm Reduction in our Rural Region" report! Explore actionable recommendations from our #GettingToTomorrow Community Dialogue on the overdose crisis in Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Grand Forks, and Cranbrook. This dialogue event took place in October 2022, and led to a number of recommendations.

Be sure to share the report and invite others to join the conversation! 🌐 Access the report by checking out the bio section at ➡️ @candrugpolicy.

#gettingtotomorrow #drugpolicy #drugpolicyreform #action #recommendations #community #connection #dialogue #harmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives

Testing hours extended! We are now open Today (Saturday, Dec 30), and Sunday (Dec 31). If you're planning to party, use substances, interested in naloxone kits/training or just want some harm reduction information please come down. We wish you a happy new year from the whole ANKORS team!
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#harmreduction #drugchecking #partysafe #naloxonesaveslives #Naloxonetraining #antistigma #confidential #NelsonBC #ANKORS #safersubstanceuse #education

🎄 Are you planning to use drugs on New Year's Eve or over the holidays? Make sure you get them tested first! With recent local drug alerts and an increasingly unpredictable drug supply, testing your drugs before you use is more important than ever‼️

Testing at ANKORS is fast, free, confidential, non-judgmental, and requires only a small bit of your substance!

❄️ Drug checking will be available at ANKORS in Nelson during the holidays on:

☑️ Saturday Dec 23rd from 12-6PM
☑️ Wednesday Dec 27th from 9:30-4:30
☑️ Thursday Dec 28th from 9:30-4:30
☑️ Saturday Dec 30th from 12-6PM

For more information, reach out to us at 236-972-7080 or 250-505-5506. You can also reach us by email at drugcheckankors@gmail.com or information@ankors.bc.ca.

#staysafe #partysafe #newyearseve #holiday #hours #drugchecking #checkyourdrugs #getyourdrugstested #drugtesting #testyourdrugs #drugcheckingisharmreduction #overdoseawareness #harmreduction #education #prevention #publichealth

🚨 IMPORTANT🚨 Interior Heath has issued a DRUG ALERT for NELSON and the surrounding area as there has been a drug sample that contains high amounts of fentanyl (25%), benzos (17% bromazolam) and xylazine (11%). This is a much higher than average fentanyl and benzodiazepine concentration - very likely to produce overdose symptoms.

Xylazine use is associated with abscesses and other skin ulcerations that do not heal on their own, often becoming infected and complicated. Naloxone will not reverse the effects of xylazine, but will counteract opioids found within these substances. Current harm reduction advice when using substances that contain xylazine is to use as little as possible and with caution.

Please spread the word to people who use drugs about safer drug use tips that can help prevent overdose as well as where they can access naloxone, drug checking and other overdose prevention services.

No matter what or how you use (smoking, snorting, injecting) take steps to prevent overdose:

Check your drugs before using! Whether using take home fentanyl testing strips or accessing FTIR technicians in your area, drug checking can inform you about what is in your drugs.

Crush your drugs into fine powder: Doing so reduces the chance of hot-spots, which are spikes of concentrated fentanyl in the dope.

Be a buddy: Help a friend by being around while they are using. Stagger use if you are using together.

Smoking is not safer than injecting, be cautious when smoking your drugs.

Know the risks when mixing drugs.

When using your substance start with a small amount, and then go slow.

Know the signs of an overdose and be prepared with naloxone.

If you must use while alone, consider using the Lifeguard app which can connect you with 911 emergency responders if you overdose.

#drugalert #nelson #nelsonbc #alert #overdose #overdoserisk #overdoseprevention #fentanyl #harmreductionsaveslives #xylazine #benzos #benzodiazepines #pleaseshare #sharethispost

Wondering what our schedule is for the holidays? ANKORS will be running essential services throughout the holidays, at the dates and times listed.

Services during this time will include: overdose prevention sites, harm reduction supplies, snacks, drinks, and a warm space to relax.

Stay tuned for a post about our drug checking hours over the holiday break.

#holidays #winter #holidayhours #essentialservices #overdosepreventionsite #harmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreductionworks #changeofschedule #changetoservices

Syphilis Part 2 - Prevention & Treatment!

#information #education #prevention #treatment #stitesting #rapidtest #rapidtesting #harmreduction #syphilis

Syphilis rates are on the rise in Canada, especially amongst gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and reproductive age females. Congenital syphilis rates are also on the rise.

Check out this post and our follow up post (Syphilis Part 2) to learn more about symptoms, transmission, prevention, testing, and treatment!

#syphilis #stis #stitesting #gettested #testing #treatment #symptoms #prevention #getchecked #harmreduction

This Friday, December 1st marks World AIDS Day and the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week which runs from December 1st-7th.

World AIDS Day is a day to honour those we have lost to AIDS, and to show support and continue the fight against HIV/AIDS. Indigenous AIDS Awareness week is a week to educate ourselves about HIV health related issues for Indigenous communities and to advocate against the stigma and health inequities faced by this population.

ANKORS will be offering outreach and on-site HIV, Hep C, and STI testing on November 30th. For outreach testing, call Katia at 250-505-2426 or Robin at 250-505-4787. Testing will be available at the Hub from 1-3PM on November 30th, and pizza will be provided!

#worldaidsday #indigenousaidsawarenessweek #iaaw #hiv #hivaids #hivaidsawareness #ankors #testing #hivtesting #hepctesting #stitesting #outreach #remember

Do you live in or near Nelson? Do you use drugs? Do you like knowing what's in your drugs before you use them?

Drug checking is now available at ANKORS on Saturday afternoons! Come to 101 Baker Street in Nelson on Saturdays from 12-5PM to get your drugs tested! Testing is fast (5-10 minutes per sample), free, anonymous, and non-judgemental!

Our regular midweek testing hours will also continue so feel free to drop by anytime Monday through Thursday from 9:30-12 and 1-4:30. If you have any questions, call 236-972-7080 or email drugcheckankors@gmail.com.

#drugchecking #party #testyourdrugs #drugtesting #checkyourdrugs #getyourdrugstested #getyourdrugschecked #saturdays #fast #free #anonymous #nojudgement #harmreduction #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreductionworks

📢 Join ANKORS, REDUN, the Nelson Fentanyl Task Force, and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition on December 5th for a crucial discussion on human rights and harm reduction!

We'll share recommendations from our Oct 2022 Getting To Tomorrow dialogue event, focusing on the urgent need for inhalation overdose prevention services.

@candrugpolicy
#humanrights #harmreduction #nelsonbc #nelsonbc❤️ #connect #gettingtotomorrow #dialogue #event #ankors #redun #canadiandrugpolicycoalition

🏳️‍⚧️ Today, November 20th, is Transgender Day of Remembrance ~ A day to remember and honour the memory of transgender people who have lost their lives to acts of anti-transgender violence.

Gwendolyn Ann Smith, the founder of Transgender Day of Remembrance, declares:

“Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people — sometimes in the most brutal ways possible — it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered, and that we continue to fight for justice.” 🏳️‍⚧️

What are you doing to fight for justice and to honour those we have lost?

#transdayofremembrance #transgenderdayofremembrance #remember #trans #transrightsarehumanrights #justice #equality #equity #gwendolynannsmith #ritahester #transawareness #transgenderawareness

⚠️ DRUG ALERT FOR CRANBROOK ⚠️ Xylazine detected in multiple samples of down.

Xylazine is a tranquilizer used in veterinary medicine. It may increase overdose risk, cause amnesia, blackouts, drowsiness, and other complications. Xylazine may not respond to naloxone.

Xylazine is also associated with abscesses and skin sores that do not heal on their own, and often become infected and complicated.

Get your drugs checked, look after one another, use at an overdose prevention site or with a buddy, start low and go slow. Take care of one another and spread the word 💜

#xylazine #overdose #drugalert #cranbrook #interiorhealth #getyourdrugstested #checkyourdrugs #staysafe #harmreduction #ankors #harmreductionsaveslives

🚨⚠️ Drug Advisory for Interior Health ⚠️🚨

Drug checking sites in the Interior region have detected isotonitazene in fake 8mg hydromorphone (Dilaudid) tablets. Isotonitazene is a relatively novel substance with limited information on its effects.

Here is what we know:

✔️ Isotonitazene is part of the benzimidazole class of opioids, which contains mostly opioids called “nitazenes”.

✔️ Isotonitazene is estimated to be equally as potent as fentanyl.

✔️ Nitazenes are not detected by fentanyl test strips.

✔️ These tablets are likely much stronger than the 8mg Dilaudid tablets they imitate. The potency could be upwards of 20+ the strength of a real tablet.

✔️ These tablets present a high risk of overdose.

✔️ Isotonitazene lasts longer than hydromorphone or fentanyl.

✔️ There is no reliable way to visually differentiate a real tablet from a fake one.

✔️ These fake dilaudid tablets (dillies) have been detected elsewhere in the last few years.

Here is what we don’t know:

❗How and to whom these tablets are distributed.

❗How common isotonitazene is in the IH region. It has been detected in two samples brought in for drug checking. There have been samples detected across BC as well.

❗What the long term implications of using isotonitazene are.

There is heightened overdose risk across our region at this time and increasing uncertainty/unpredictability with the drug supply. If you use drugs, get your substances tested at a drug checking site before using! Encourage your friends, family members, colleagues, and community members to do the same.

#staysafe #drugadvisory #interiorhealth #interiorhealthauthority #ankorsbc #nelson #kootenays #westkootenays #drugchecking #getyourdrugschecked #testyourdrugs #isotonitazene #overdoserisk #overdoseawareness #harmreductionsaveslives #harmreductionworks

Happy Halloween everyone! Here are our updates drug checking hours for this weekend. Come in to get your results in a quick and confidential service.
If your tick or treating, dressing up in your best costume or going out for a boogie with your friends we want you to stay safe 🍬👻
#harmreduction #drugchecking #safersubstanceuse #nelson #halloween #confidential #staysafe #ANKORS #Naloxone #partysafe

Nelson sets new drug death record only 8 months into 2023: 13 people have died in the city through August.

"More people have already died in Nelson in 2023 due to illicit toxic drugs than any previous year. Data released Monday by the BC Coroners Service shows 13 people have died in the Nelson local health area, which includes Salmo and parts of the Slocan Valley, as of the end of August. That tops the record of 11 deaths in all of 2022."

Read more in the Nelson Star Article at the link here and in the comments:

https://www.nelsonstar.com/news/nelson-sets-new-drug-death-record-only-8-months-into-2023/

PLUS KOOTENAYS! STI testing event for gay, bisexual, trans and queer men, two spirit and gender diverse folks! All services are safe and confidential. Come to ANKORS at 101 Baker Street from 5-7PM on October 12th to get tested!

#plus #pluskootenays #kootenays #stitesting #sti #testing #gettested #confidential #safe #queer #lgbt #pride #2slgbtqia #2slgbtqiaplus

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About ANKORS

ANKORS is a dedicated non-profit organisation providing essential services such as overdose reversal sites, harm reduction supplies, LGBTQIA2S+ support, and social services. We are committed to raising awareness and offering detailed descriptions of our wide range of services to support the community.

Our Mission:

ANKORS' mission is to respond to the evolving needs of those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C and other blood borne pathogens; and to foster healthy, informed communities.

Our Mandate:
ANKORS will work from a wellness model, through support and advocacy; harm reduction, prevention and education; delivery of programs and services that are client centered and focused on the whole person; and partnerships with others.

Welcome to ANKORS

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About ANKORS

Our Mandate: ANKORS will work from a wellness model, through support and advocacy; harm reduction, prevention and education; delivery of programs and services that are client centered and focused on the whole person; and partnerships with others.

ANKORS (Aids Network, Kootenay Outreach and Support Society)

Our Mandate:
ANKORS will work from a wellness model, through support and advocacy; harm reduction, prevention and education; delivery of programs and services that are client centered and focused on the whole person; and partnerships with others.